Psychology - Bartletts “War of The Ghosts” Study

• What were the results of the study?

  Participants changed the story

  They left out info they were less familiar with and shortened the story and phrases to those that would be used in the participants own culture
• What did Bartlett conclude?

  That we use our knowledge of social situations to reconstruct memory

  because details of the story he investigated on were changed to improve and better understand meaning
• What was the aim of the study?

  Investigate how memory is reconstructed when people are asked to recall an unfamiliar story

  (in particular a story from a different culture)
• The method?

  Participants shown the War of the Ghosts Story

  Recalled it after 15 mins, then after weeks, months and years

  Bartlett recorded recall
• Evaluations of the study?

  -Weakness: Lacks Control

  Participants not told accurate recall was important

  Other studies found recall was better when participants were aware it was important

  Suggests recall is more accurate than what Bartlett concluded
• Weakness of the study?

  -Results were biased

  His own beliefs may have affected results

  He analysed recollections himself

  His belief recall would be affected by cultural expectations may have biased interpretations of results

  Therefore, conclusion cannot fully be trusted